The Afghan Defense Ministry says its soldiers have killed at least
seven insurgents near where militants breached a U.S. military outpost
in eastern Afghanistan.

The ministry said Tuesday the operation took place Monday near Wanat village in Nuristan province's Waygal district.

Local
authorities say Afghan and foreign soldiers also briefly detained the
district administrator and police chief for questioning about their
alleged cooperation with the Taliban. The soldiers are
searching for militants who may have been involved in an attack on a
U.S. outpost in the same district Sunday. NATO previously said the
attack happened in neighboring Kunar province.

Nine U.S. troops were killed in the raid - one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. troops since 2001.

U.S. President George Bush today acknowledged the difficult fight in Afghanistan.

He
noted that members of the coalition fighting in Afghanistan have
already announced plans to send additional forces there, including
troops from the United States and France.